Mattress handle



Feb. 26, 1957 wl F, CASTER 2,782,428

MATTRESS HANDLE Filed Oct, 15, 1952 United States Patent O MATTRESS HANDLE William F. Caster, St. Paul, Minn;

Application October 15, 1952, Serial No. 314,882

s Claims. (Cl. 534S) 1 My invention relates to an improvement in mattress handles by means of which mattresses may be lifted or carried.

ln recent years it has been common practice to provide the side walls of mattresses with some type of handle by means of which the mattress may be lifted, turned, or carried. For the most part these handles extend through the side wall of the mattress and are provided with some type of reinforcing plate lying inwardly of the mattress wall so that the pull on the handle will be resisted by an area of the mattress wall. In view of the weight of mattresses, such handles sometimes pull out, the handle thus becoming detached from its anchoring plate or the anchoring plate tearing or deforming the adjacent portion of the mattress wall.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a mattress handle which is attached to the frame of the inner spring unit within the mattress. As a result the pull upon the handles is transmitted to the wire frame holding the springs of the inner spring unit in place. As a result the pull upon the handle is distributed over the entire mattress and there is no danger of injury to the mattress side wall by an excessive strain on the handle.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a mattress handle which is comprised of one piece which not only connects with the upper and lower rectangular frame of the inner spring unit, but also extends through the mattress wall to form the mattress handle. In this respect my handle disclosed herein differs from that illustrated in my previously issued Patent No. 2,584,842, issued February 5, 1952, for Mattress Handle.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that a pull upon the handle is transmitted directly to the vertically spaced frames encircling the inner spring unit. The point of connection of the handle With one of these frames is laterally spaced from the connection of the handle with the other frame so that compression of the spring is not prevented by the handle unit connecting the same.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a handle which includes an olf-set portion arranged to lie outwardly of the mattress wall and which is arranged in generally parallel relation to the portion of the inner spring frames to which it is attached. One end of this off-set portion is connected to the lower spring frame, while the other end of the olf-set portion is connected to the other spring frame. Thus a pull on the handle is equally distributed to the two spring frames.

A feature of the present invention lies in the low cost at which my mattress handle may be produced. The handles include merely a bent bar of suitable material, such as heavy wire or the like, which possesses suicient strength to support the weight of the mattress without bending beyond the elastic limit of the mattress. This bar is merely inserted through the ilexible wall of the 2,782,428 iP-atented Feb. 26, 1957 mattress during the assemblythereof Yand one end thereof is connected to one spring trarne unit while the other ice end is connected to the other spring frameunit. Means are provided for securing the ends of the handle bar to the frames. If desired Ygrommets may be provided in the mattress wall through which the off-set portions of the bar may extend. Furthermore, if desired the offset portion ot the handle bar Vmay be covered with a covering material such as a tubular sleeve of fabric, rubber or other suitable material.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

`Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a `mattress `showing my handle bars mounted therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of a mattress wall, the view being shown partly in section to show the manner in `which the ends of the bar may be connected to the frames encircling the inner spring unit.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the mattress wall showing the manner in which the handle unit may be connected thereto.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing a clip which may be employed to secure the ends of the handle to the spring frame.

Figure 5 is a perspective -view of the mattress handle removed from the mattress.

The mattress A may be of any type of construction in which spring frames or other similar anchoring elements are provided. In the form of construction illustrated the mattress A comprises an inner spring mattress embodying an inner spring unit. The inner spring unit includes a series of vertically extending springs 10 arranged in generally parallel relationship. Means are provided `for holding the springs in proper spaced relation, these means usually comprising helical springs whichtie the ends of adjacent springs 10 together. A generally-rectangular metallwire frame 11 encircles one end of the spring while a similar generally rectangular frame IZencircles the opposite ends of the springs.

The various means tying adjacent ends of the springs 10 together are anchored to the spring frame 11, while the similar tying means used to anchor the other ends of the springs 10 together are connected to the spring frame 12. As this structure is relatively common practice in mattress construction the specific ymanner in which the springs 10 are tied together is not specifically illus trated in the drawings.

The springs 10 adjacent the frames 11 and 12 are preferably connected to these frames by some such means as the helical springs 13 and 14. The upper endsof the springs 10, as viewed in Figure 2 of the drawings, are connected to the frame 11 by the helical spring 13. The lower ends of the adjacent springs 10 are similarly connected to the frame 12 by the helical spring 14. The springs 13 and 14 encircle the frames 11 and l2, respectively, and the ends of the adjacent springs are usually threaded through the helical springs at spaced points.

The mattress A usually includes a liner 15 overlying the spring unit and a covering 16 supported above the liner 15 and spaced therefrom by paddingl'l. A liner 19 underlies the spring unit and is separated from the covering 20 by padding 21. As the spring unit is the same on both surfaces, it obviously may be inverted without changing the operation thereof.

The mattress side wall 22 is marginally connected to the top and bottom mattress coverings to enclose the edges of the spring unit. The side wall may contain a liner 23, an outer covering 24, and intermediate padding 25 if it is so desired. The side wall 22 usually is spaced outwardly a short distance from the edges of the spring unit so as to permit exing of the spring unit without interference with the mattress side wall.

At spaced points in the side wall 22 I provide apertures 26 and 27 which are preferably equipped with eyelets or grommets 29 and 30, respectively. The grommets 29 and 30 form spaced openings through the side wall 22 through which the mattress handle may extend. In usual practice the openings 29 and 30 are laterally spaced so that the portion of the mattress handle which overlies the mattress side wall therebetween is generally parallel to the adjacent portions of the spring frames 1l and 12.

The mattress handle bars B are preferably formed as best illustrated in Figure of the drawings. Each bar includes an anchoring end 31 designed to extend parallel to one spring frame such as 12. The anchoring end 3l is connected at a bend 32 to an upwardly inclined bar portion 33 which is designed to extend upwardly approximately one-half of the distance between the spring frames 11 and 12. This inclined portion 33 is connected at a bend 34 with a forwardly extending portion 35 designed to extend generally normal to the plane of the mattress side wall 22 and to extend through a grommet such as 29. The forward end of the forwardly projecting portion 33 is connected at a bend 36 to an off-set handle porti-on 37 designed to lie against the outer surface of the mattress wall 22. The handle bar is bent at 39 to provide a rearwardly extending portion 40 parallel to the portion 35 which is designed to extend through the grommet 30. The rearwardly extending portion 40 is connected at a bend 41 to an upwardly inclined portion 42 which is connected at a bend 43 to the anchored end 44 of the handle bar. The anchoring end 44 extends generally parallel to the anchoring end 31, and the handle portion 37 and is designed for connection with the second spring frame member such as Il.

In preferred form the handle bar B is provided with kinks or shoulders 45 and 46 in the anchoring ends 31 and 44, respectively. The kinks 45 and 46 are provided to prevent the clamping means holding the ends of the handle bar to the spring frames from sliding off the ends of the handle bar.

Any suitable clamping means may be provided for holding the ends of the handle bar to the spring frames. For example wire may be provided about the anchoring ends 31 and 43 and about the corresponding spring frames 12 and 11 to hold these elments engaged. In Figure 4 of the drawings I disclose a clamping ring of sheet metal or the like, indicated in general by the numeral 47, which extends about the anchoring ends and about the adjacent spring frame to hold these elements together. It will be noted that the kink 45 shown in Figure 4 prevents the clamping member 47 from sliding o the adjacent end of the handle bar.

If desired a tubular sleeve 49 of iiexible material may be threaded on the handle bar B to cover the handle portion 37 and the adjacent parallel portions 35 and 40. This flexible sleeve may be formed of fabric, rubber, plastic, or any siutable material, or may comprise merely a coating thereupon. If the metal is such that it will not corrode or rust upon exposure to air, the off-set portion of the handle may remain uncovered.

In Figure l of the drawings it will be noted that the handle bars B and C are secured with their closest ends attached to the same inner spring frame. When thus constructed the two handle bars B and C act to stabilize the inner spring unit and to so connect the spring frames that vertical compression will take place.

The handle bar C is identical to the handle bar B, except that the bar C is reversed in its slant. In other words, the parallel portions 35 and 40 and the off-set handle portion 37 project in an opposite direction from the inclined portions 33 and 42. However, if desired the handle bars used may be identical in form.

In grasping the handle B or C, the lingers are inserted between the off-set handle portion and the mattress wall, exing the mattress wall inwardly. The pull upon the handle is transmitted directly to the spring frames 11 and 12 and thus indirectly transmitted to the entire spring unit. As a result the pull is resisted by the entire inner spring structure. As a result there is no danger of injury to the mattress wall or to the projecting portion of the handle, and the mattress handle can not he pulled out of place. Furthermore, because of the simplicity of my construction, my mattress handle may be made at a fraction of the cost of most mattress handles.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my mattress handle, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. A mattress handle for use in combination with a pair of generally parallel anchoring members within, and substantially parallel to, a side wall of the mattress, the handle comprising a unitary relatively rigid Wire bar connected to said parallel anchoring members and extending substantially in the plane thereof, and an integral offset portion between the ends of said bar extending through the mattress side wall and overlying the outer surface thereof and substantially parallel thereto along the plane of the said side wall.

2. A mattress handle in combination with a mattress having a pair of spaced frame members therein lying inwardly of, and substantially parallel to, the mattress wall, the handle including a unitary relatively rigid wire bar, means connecting said bar to said parallel frame members and extending substantially in the plane thereof, and an integral ofi-set portion intermediate the ends of said bar extending through the mattress side wall and lying outwardly thereof and substantially parallel thereto in the plane of the said side wall.

3. A mattress handle for use in combination with a mattress having a pair of generally parallel frame members lying inwardly of, and substantially parallel t0, the mattress side wall, the handle including a unitary relatively rigid wire bar secured at one end to one of said frame members, and secured at its other end to the other of said frame members, said bar lying substantially parallel to the plane of the mattress wall, and an olf-set integral intermediate portion on said bar extending through the mattress side wall at spaced points and overlying the portion of the outer surface in the normal plane thereof.

4. A mattress handle including a unitary relatively rigid wire bar including an integral olf-set portion overlying a portion of the mattress side wall in the normal plane of the length thereof, inwardly extending integral portions at opposite ends of said off-set portion extending through the mattress side wall, and inclined integral portions connected to said inwardly extending portions and lying inwardly of the mattress wall, said inclined integral portions being arranged on a plane substantially parallel to the mattress wall.

5. A mattress handle including a unitary relatively rigid wire handle bar including an integral intermediate ot-set portion, parallel integral bar portions extending in the same direction at opposite ends of said off-set portion. generally parallel inclined integral bar portions issuing from said first named parallel portions, generally parallel anchoring portions extending in opposite directions at the ends of said inclined portions, and offset integral shoulders at the ends of said generally parallel anchoring portions.

6. A mattress handle for use on a mattress having a pair of spaced frames lying inwardly of the mattress side wall and substantially parallel thereto, the handle comprising a unitary relatively rigid wire body including an integral central off-set portion lying outwardly of the mattress wall substantially in the normal plane thereof, generally parallel integral portions extending through the mattress wall at spaced points and substantially normal to the plane thereof, inclined integral handle portions on the inner ends of said parallel portions and lying in substantially a common plane, clamping ring and integral wire end shoulder means securing one of said inclined portions to one of said spring frame members, and clamping ring and integral Wire end shoulder means connecting the otite: of said inclined portions to the other of said .spring frame members.

7. A mattress handle for use on a mattress having a pair of spaced frames lying inwardly of the mattress side wall and Substantially parallel thereto, the handle comprising a unitary relatively rigid body including an integral central off-set portion lying outwardly of the mattress wall, gencrally parallel integral portions extending through the mattress wall `at spaced points and substantially normal to the plane thereof, substantially eoplanar inclined integral handle portions on the inner ends of said parallel portions, each extending to a point closely adjacent to one of said frames, clamping ring and shoulder lacking means securing one of said inclined portions to one of said spring frame members, and additional clamping ring and shoulder locking means connecting the other of said inclined portions to the other of said spring frame members, the

points of attachment between the inclined portions and their respective frame members being laterally off-set.

8. A mattress handle for use in conjunction with a mattress having a pair of spaced frame members lying inwardly of the side Wall thereof, the handle including a central portion lying outwardly of the mattress side wall, integral connecting portions at opposite ends ot' said central portion, and extending through the mattress Wall substantially normal thereto, a downwardly inclined inte gral handle portion connected to one of said connecting portions inwardly of the mattress wall, auxiliary clamping ring means connecting said downwardly inclined portion to one of said frames, an upwardly inclined portion secured to the other of said connecting portions, and additional auxiliary clamping ring means connecting said upwardly inclined portion to the other of said frames, said inclined portions being arranged on a plane substantially parallel to the mattress wall and integral with said connecting portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,102,066 Gleason Dec. 14, 1937 2,145,408 Taylor Jan. 31, 1939 2,224,301 Johnson Dec. l0, 1940 2,584,842 Caster Feb. 5, 1952 

